Once you finish one of the accredited nursing degree programs in Illinois or in another state, you might want to look at some of the graduate programs open to students just like you. With a degree in nursing and a license from your state, you can work as a nurse in a hospital, retirement home, hospice or a public clinic. Those who work their way up in the field are usually those who have some type of graduate or advanced degree. While you might look into certification to work in special nursing fields, you should also look at some of the top graduate schools too.
Bradley University
Department of Nursing
Established in 1897, Bradley University is a medium sized private university with its head campus in Peoria, Illinois. Originally started as a polytechnic institute, most of its first classes and degree programs had roots in technological changes and innovations of the time. Named after a prominent local company who made a large donation to help fund the university, it now offers a number of degree programs in subjects like engineering, business, computer science, nursing and psychology. Its urban campus in Peoria has a population of more than 4,000 students, which includes the more than 800 students enrolled in its graduate programs.
Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Students looking to advance their careers and further their studies will find the Master of Science in Nursing Administration program at Bradley University interesting. This program only accepts students who already have a bachelor's degree in nursing and those who will finish an accredited nursing program prior to the start of classes. It requires that students take 36 credit hours of courses. Some of the general courses you might take include health administration theories, health care policy and leadership in the health care industry. Two of the courses the university requires you take are only available during your senior year. This is when you'll take a class on the analysis and development of nursing theories and one on learning and practice. Bradley University also requires that nursing administration students take two practicum courses and do a capstone project based around the nursing industry that requires a large amount of independent research.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1501 W Bradley Ave.
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 676-7611
[email protected]
http://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/nursing/
Related Resource: 50 Great Scholarships for Nursing Students
Lewis University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Lewis University, sometimes called Lewis by former and current students, is one of several private colleges in Illinois that have an affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. Originally known as a technical school, it provided courses designed to prepare students for working in fields like transportation and aviation. As more students enrolled in its courses, it shifted its emphasis to more liberal arts studies. Both U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review included Lewis University on their lists of the nation's top private schools. With a graduate population of nearly 2,000 students, it's home to one of the state's largest graduate schools.
Master of Science in Nursing in Healthcare Systems Leadership
Though Lewis University offers a number of more traditional degree programs that take place on campus, it also gives students the option of completing their degrees through one of its online programs too. Its Master of Science in Nursing Healthcare Systems Leadership is just one of its programs that students can take on campus or online. Instead of giving students a broad overview of various nursing topics like other programs do, this one focuses specifically on leading others in the health care field. The program looks at topics like finance, human resources, management and economics. Students must take all the required MSN courses as well as several classes within the leadership and nursing systems fields. Students will take a course on human resources management to see how to manage employees working for a clinic or hospital and at least one class on organizational behaviors and principles.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446-2200
(815) 838-0500
[email protected]
http://www.lewisu.edu/academics/nursing/
Loyola University Chicago
Niehoff School of Nursing
One of the largest private Roman Catholic private colleges in the country is Loyola University Chicago. Founded in 1870 as a small private school, its founders wanted a college that would help those living in the Chicago area better themselves. It eventually became so popular that the university added independent colleges to its campuses to meet the needs of students interested in business, law and other specialized topics. Both Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report included Loyola University Chicago among the nation's top 100 colleges, and it also appeared on the QS list of the best colleges in the world.
MSN in Health Systems Management
Through its Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago offers a Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management. This MSN program came out of the need that the city had for qualified and dependable nurses who also had strong management skills. Though many of its graduates remain in the Chicago area and work for leading health care and medical organizations, the university also sees its graduates working in facilities across the country. The basic program consists of 38 credit hours of classes, but students can also select a concentration in informatics or outcomes performance management. Those who select one of these concentrations will need to take up to 41 credit hours of classes. The program requires that all students enrolling submit proof that they completed a minimum of 2,000 hours of nursing work within the specialty track they chose. Students will take classes on topics like nursing ethics and research.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1032 Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60660
[email protected]
http://www.luc.edu/nursing/
Saint Xavier University
School of Nursing
The Sisters of Mercy established a small college in 1846 that was only open to women. This college was one of the only in the Chicago area that allowed women to take the same classes as men. Though the college, then called the Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy, operated in the same area for a number of years before a fire destroyed its original campus. After moving to a new location and expanding its curriculum, the college changed its name to Saint Xavier University. Also known as SXU, its enrollment now tops more than 5,000 students.
MSN/MBA
A few of the accredited nursing degree programs in Illinois include some aspect of business, including the joint MSN/MBA program available through Saint Xavier University. As a combined program, it requires that students take classes through both the School of Nursing and the Graham School of Management. Students have the option of selecting a concentration or field of study from three areas: clinical leadership, executive leadership or family nurse practitioners. The clinical leadership concentration focuses on leading and helping others in a health care setting, while the executive leadership concentration deals more with the issues that nursing managers deal with daily. The family nurse option allows students to gain the skills needed to work in a family health practice. At the same time that you take nursing courses, you'll need to take business courses like managerial accounting, strategic management, managerial finance, operations management and marketing management.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
3700 W. 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
(844) 468-6798
[email protected]
http://www.sxu.edu/academics/colleges_schools/son/
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
School of Nursing
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of the newer branches of Southern Illinois University. That larger school system established the campus in 1957 as an extension school or satellite school that offered a limited number of classes and was open to students who couldn't attend one of the larger campuses of that school system in the state. As enrollment grew, the smaller school eventually became a full fledged university but still retains its connection to that school system. Many students refer to the campus, which covers more than 2,000 acres, as SIUE but some call it The "e" because of the surrounding city.
Master of Science in Health Care and Nursing Administration
SIUE offers several accredited nursing degree programs in Illinois for students who already finished an undergraduate degree in nursing. One option for those who want to work in management and executive positions is its Master of Science in Health Care and Nursing Administration. While the program includes a number of classes that students must take, it also requires that students spend a minimum of 270 credit hours working on practicum courses. These courses let students work in real life situations to see if they understand what to do and how to react in those settings. Between their courses and practicum work, they'll earn a total of 35 credit hours. SIUE expects students to complete all their work in seven semesters and that they do most of their practicum work during the summer semester. This nursing program includes classes on finances and budgets, nursing research and nursing foundations.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1 Hairpin Dr.
Edwardsville, IL 62026
(800) 447-7483
https://www.siue.edu/nursing/
University of St. Francis
Leach College of Nursing
Joliet, Illinois is home to the University of St. Francis, which is a smaller Catholic private college. When founded in 1920, the university operated as a junior college and offered courses and programs similar to those offered by community colleges today. As its student population increased and those students demanded access to more advanced programs, the university began offering bachelor's degree programs in more topics. Most of the students who attend classes here come from Catholic backgrounds and attend religious services on campus, but the university accepts students of all backgrounds. Its population recently rose to more than 3,000 students.
Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration (Online)
The University of St. Francis now offers four graduate programs in nursing, including a Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration, which some call the Master of Science in Nursing Administration. Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of work, but students who opt also enroll in one of its certification programs and those who select a second concentration will complete more than 40 semester hours of work. At least 16 credits must come from the graduate core of courses, which include population health and biostatistics. They'll also take 20 credits of administration courses like health care finance, health care law and decision making in the health care industry. One of the last courses that you will take is a capstone course on nursing administration. This course is worth four credits and requires that you do your own research and present a paper or project on improving the health care field.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
500 Wilcox St.
Joliet, IL 60435
(800) 735-7500
http://www.stfrancis.edu/academics/college-of-nursing/#.VzFE7IQrLIU
Earning a graduate nursing degree opens up even more possibilities and opportunities to you. You might work as a shift supervisor in a hospital, as the head of a nursing organization or in other supervisory positions. Find which of the accredited nursing degree programs in Illinois matches your goals today.